bauxite
UK: ˈbɔːksaɪt | US: ˈbɔkˌsaɪt
n. A clay-like mineral that is the primary ore of aluminum, consisting mainly of hydrated aluminum oxides.
The word "bauxite" derives from the village Les Baux-de-Provence in southern France, where the mineral was first discovered in 1821 by geologist Pierre Berthier. The suffix -ite (from Greek -ites) is commonly used in mineralogy to denote rocks or ores. Thus, "bauxite" literally means "mineral from Les Baux," reflecting its geographic origin.
Bauxite is refined to produce alumina, the precursor to aluminum metal.
The country's economy relies heavily on bauxite exports.
Mining bauxite can cause significant environmental disruption.
Australia is one of the world's largest producers of bauxite.
The reddish color of bauxite comes from its iron oxide content.